SPORTS MINISTER KOFI ADAMS URGES RETENTION OF SATELLITES SQUAD FOR 2028 OLYMPICS
Despite early AFCON exit, Minister backs core U-20 team for future Olympic success.
Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has called on Ghanaian football authorities to maintain the core of the national U-20 team, known as the Satellites, as they prepare for future competitions, particularly the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
The Satellites were eliminated in the quarterfinals of the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on penalties by host nation Egypt, missing out on one of Africa’s four slots for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile later this year.
Despite the disappointment, Adams praised coach Desmond Ofei’s team for their impressive group-stage performance and unbeaten run in regulation time. He highlighted playmaker Abdul Aziz Issah and the team’s possession-based attacking style as promising indicators for the future.
“The Satellites may have exited the tournament early, but this is a very good team,” Adams said during a courtesy call with the newly appointed Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) leadership. “With a few additions, they can mature into the U-23 squad that will represent Ghana at the next Olympics.”
Adams emphasized that prioritizing and nurturing this squad could enhance Ghana’s prospects for Olympic medals, a feat the country has not replicated since its historic bronze win in Barcelona 1992.
The last Olympic football appearance by Ghana was at Athens 2004, and the Minister’s statement signals renewed hope for a return to the podium on the global stage.
Source:NKONKONSA.com
